NEW DELHI: Despite protests from certain friends and foes of the ruling party, hopes of formation of a second State Reorganisation Commission (SRC) remained alive with the Congress on Monday saying it has "absolutely no objection" for it.

"The issue of setting up of an SRC or creation of new states are matters for the government to decide. In the event that government believes that creation of some new states is valid, then Congress party will absolutely have no objection," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi.

As party circles spoke about the possibility of such a commission despite protests from the Left, Singhvi said it would be better to have such a body to address issues of economic viability, historical claims and sustainability.

He said that an expert body like the SRC would help look into the issues of creation of new states in a proper manner. The talk of having a second SRC gained momentum last week after senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said that government was actively considering the matter.

Some Congress leaders from Telangana, including Deputy Leader of the Lok Sabha G Venkataswamy, have protested against the move and wanted creation of the separate state without going to the SRC. Uttar Pradesh Congress has come out with demand for carving out a separate "Bundelkhand" state from UP with state party chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi saying that her party was not against smaller states. The UPA has set up a sub-committee headed by senior leader Pranab Mukherjee to go into the issue of smaller states.

Source : PTI